Riquewihr in the fight against motorhomes – Actus des aires
If you plan to travel soon the Alsace wine route, you will probably need Riquewihr where the circulation and parking of motorhomes are highly regulated, even prohibited. The town hall of Riquewihr, which we contacted, confirmed to us that it had drawn up a decree to prevent motorhomes from circulating on certain roads in the town. The reasons mentioned that being motorhomes hinder the work of some winegrowers and pollute the paths of the town by depositing their waste.
These two elements are contested by Valentin Hueber, winegrower in Riquewihr and welcoming France Passion. A few weeks, the municipality installed signs prohibiting traffic intended for motorhomes at each end of the municipal path leading to the property of Mr. Hueber. In addition, no motorhome is allowed to go to this friendly welcoming, therefore deprived of part of its income from the reception of motorhomes on its property. Contacted, Mr. Hueber, totally distraught by the behavior of the elected officials, admitted to us that he did not understand the reasons for such a ban. “The mayor told me that the land on which the motorhomes are parked is classified as an agricultural zone on the PLU. But how can I not receive motorhomes on this land. Especially since I myself maintain the municipal road that passes in front. »
Protective PLU
We consulted the PLU of Riquewihr who specifies that the agricultural zone (Aa) is
protected because of the agricultural value of the land and in particular those devoted to wine-growing. This zone is… unbuildable due to the presence of the vineyard which must maintain the integrity of the landscape.
Moreover, first article concerning this area mentionsprohibitions of land occupation and use. It is written that
the creation of campsites and parking lots for caravans, the parking of isolated caravans, the depots of old vehicles and all occupations and uses of the soil likely to affect the quality of ground and surface water are prohibited.
But a motorhome is by no means a caravan and the fact that he is parked in a place that does not turn this place into a campground Insofar as no unpacking is done by the occupants. In addition, motorhomes cannot be reported as old vehicles (in other words wrecks) which are deposited on the site since they are only parked there for a few hours.
Moreover, a motorhome does not discharge waste water and therefore does not risk harming the quality of the groundwater of the land on which it is stationed.
Prohibition order
Sir Daniel Klack, the mayor of Riquewihr was nevertheless well inspired by the PLU to reimburse his municipal decree
which relates to the regulation of the parking of motorhomes, caravans, converted vans, the prohibition of wild camping and lighting fires in the vineyard.
the text of the decree sent to us by the Chief of the Municipal Police of Riquewihr makes good reference to
safeguarded and protective perimeters, located in zone Aa, mentioned in the PLU and approved in deliberation by the municipal council, dated 02/04/2019
Zone Aa therefore constitutes all of the protected agricultural land.
The mayor justifies his decree as suit:
Considering the need to facilitate access for winegrowers to their plots of vines, to maintain the integrity of the landscape, to preserve the condition of the wine-growing roads and their surroundings, to prevent fires and to fight against illegal dumping.
Section 1 of the decree then indicates:
Is the parking of motorhomes, caravans and converted vans prohibited on the SCHOENENBOURG path, in the MANDELKREUTZWEG, on the KOEBELSBERG plateau, in the HEFTWEG, in the path called GEHEYWEG, rue André MALRAUX and in the KREUTZMATTENWEG? between April 1 and December 31 of each year, day and night.
The use of the plural (are forbidden) see vehicles clearly (Motorhomes, vans and caravans), more than the parking which, according to the turn of the sentence and the grammatical rule must call the singular.
Article 2 specifies also :
The practice of wild camping is also prohibited on the hill of SHOENENBOURG, between April 1 and December 31, of each year, day and night.
Finally, article 6 refers to regulatory signage set up by the services of the city of Riquewihr. This last point is moreover highly debatable since the signs installed by the municipality displaying the silhouette of a motorhome on a white background and surrounded by a red circle is not not recognized by the highway code.
Besides, in the eyes of the law, the round sign with a white background circled in red prohibits all circular vehicles. If we stick to this horizontal signage, motorhomes would no longer even have the right to circular on these areas prohibited by the municipal decree. Really sad for a municipality with a tourist vocation!